How to Get Pregnant with a Boy Using the Shettles Method

If you want a little man in your life, you might be wondering how to get pregnant with a boy. According to the Shettles Method, both mom and dad can do certain things to make seeing blue blankets and booties a reality.

The Shettles Method works based on the theory that male sperm are faster but more fragile than female sperm. In other words, the sperm that result in a baby boy get to an egg faster than the sperm that result in a baby girl. However, the male sperm is also more likely to run into problems while trying to get to the egg.

In order to conceive a baby boy, a couple should have sex as close to ovulation as possible. You can figure out when ovulation is about to occur by studying your cervical fluid and using an ovulation predictor kit. Although charting your basal body temperature is a good way to chart your cycles, doing so will only tell you are currently ovulating. So if you want to get pregnant with a baby boy, pay close attention to the signs that will tell you when you are about to ovulate, such as egg-white cervical fluid.

According to the Shettles Method, when sex occurs close to ovulation, the male sperm race quickly to find the egg, while the female sperm take their time. The male sperm therefore get to the egg first, increasing your chances of conceiving a boy. And because male sperm is more fragile, if sex occurs too far away from ovulation, the male sperm will die, allowing the hardier female sperm the time to mosey on over to the egg.

Proponents of the Shettles Method claim that it's 75% effective. But there is no scientific evidence to back that fact. And since conceiving a baby of either sex is a 50/50 chance, a 75% effectiveness rate is barely an improvement. If you want to try to get pregnant with a boy, then by all means try the Shettles Method. Just don't be surprised if you end up with pink blankets and bows.

Have you had success with the Shettles Method of sex selection? Share in the comments below.

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Heather Johnson

Heather Johnson is a librarian, a writer, a wife, and a first-time mother of a little girl. She has BA in English studies with a minor in creative writing, an MS in library and information science, and an MS in English with an emphasis in linguistics. Her writing passions include breastfeeding, natural childbirth, homebirth, vaccination, and cloth diapers, and her hobbies include cooking and gardening. She has previously written for What to Expect and currently writes for The Parenting Patch: Where Parents Grow.

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